Dehairing method



Jung l22, 1937.' H. H. MCKEE E 'r A1. 2,084,857

DEHAIRING METHOD Original Filed Feb. 27, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY June 22, 1937. H. H. MCKEE ET AL 2,084,857

DEHAIRING METHOD n Original Filed Feb. 27, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS W r n' E .s 5

um awww BYWW ATTORNEY June 22, 1937. H. H. McKEE ET Al. 2,084,857

DEHAIRING METHOD Original Filed Feb. 2'?, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 m Wmv dnd Ke z'zf Maz? INVENToRs y BYg 'l W.

I ATTORNEY June 22, 1937. H. H. MCKEE ET Al.

- DEHAIRING METHOD original' Filed Feb. 27, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,m lllllllzl 6 ferry MQ/e and Kaff/2 Mall INVENToRs BY W W ATTORNEY June 22, 1937. H. H. MCKEE ET Al.

DEHAIRING METHOD Griginal Filed Feb. 27, 1955 5 SheetsvSheet 5 i [fzg/ Mgjfee and Kaff/2 Maz INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES DEHAIRNG METHOD Harry il. McKee, Chicago, Ill., and Keith Muir,

Baltimore, Md., assignors to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application February 27, 1935, Serial No. 8,514. Divided and this application December 31, 1935, Serial No. 56,970

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of dehairing animal carcasses such as hog carcasses.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro- 5 vide a method for dehairing animal carcasses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and means for completely removing the hair from the most inaccessible parts of the hog carcass.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and means for scalding, dehairing and rinsing hog carcasses each in sequence and all in one continuous operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims that follow.

This application is a division of our application entitled Method and means for dehairing hogs, Serial No. 8,514, filed February 27, 1935.

In conventional abattoir practice hogs are run into a shackling pen where, by means of a chain hooked about one hind leg, they are elevated to an overhead conveyor to be carried past an operator who opens the jugular vein with a knife. The hog then continues on the conveying means for a suitable distance to permit completion of the bleeding. At this juncture, the hog is released from the conveyor and allowed to drop into a tank of Warm water, from which it is transferred to a tank of scalding water, and then conveyed to a dehairing apparatus.

In the present practice, the carcass, upon being conveyed from the scalding tank to the dehairing apparatus, is exposed to the air for several minutes, and, because of the rapid radiation of the heat from the hot skin tothe cooler` air during the interval of exposure, is somewhat chilled, thereby causing the skin to contract and the pores in the skin to shrink in size and making more difficult the removal of hair from the cooler sections. In practice, this objection is partially overcome by means of continuously spraying the carcass with soalding water during the dehairing operation to maintain the scalding temperature, but such means is unsatisfactory because of some parts of the carcass drying more quickly than others and such parts not being fully resaturated or sufiiciently reheated by the spray.

The present invention is concerned primarily with the treatment of hogs from the time they leave the bleeding conveyor until they are deposited on a gambrel conveyor, and proposes to scald, dehair, and rinse hog carcasses, singly or in close succession, in one continuous operation in such a manner that the carcass will be totally maintained at a scalding temperature throughout the dehairing operation.

The method of the present invention may be carried out with apparatus such as is described in our said application, Serial No. 8,514. Such apparatus is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters in the several figures designate similar parts.

Figure 1 is a plan View showing the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the beater or dehairing section of the present invention taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing a hog carcass in the process of being dehaired.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to Figure 2, with parts of the several sections broken away, and showing in detail a side view of the driving mechanism of the beater shafts.

Figure 5 is a View taken on line 5 5 of Figure 4, showing in detail a front View of the mechanism for driving the beater shafts.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on line G-B of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed view of the slidable bearings for carrying the upper adjustable beater shafts.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a View of the adjustable bearings showing means attached thereto for adjusting.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on line II-II of Figure 10.

Figure l2 is a detail View of a stationary bearing for shafts which are not adjustable.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a single beater blade.

Figure 14 is a section on line Ill-I4 of Figure 13.

Referring now more particularly to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, the framework of the apparatus used in the present invention comprises an elongated metal tank I braced on each of its four sides by angle irons 2, 3, 4, and 5 secured to the upper edges thereof by bolts, rivets or other suitable means, said angle irons be: ing joined at their respective ends 6, 'I, 8, and 9 by bolts, rivets or welding. The tank I is divided into sections I0, II, and I2. Section IIJ will be hereinafter referred to as the scalding section, section II as the dehairing section, and section I2 as the rinsing section. Section II by reason of its length is subdivided at I3 to permit additional bearings to relieve the stress on beater shafts to be hereinafter described.

It will be noted in Figure 2 that the scalding section I0 is of greater depth than sections Il and I2 to allow the hog carcasses being dropped from the bleeding conveyor a suitable descent without striking the bottom, thereby preventing unnecessary bruising or tearing of the skin.

At subdivision I3 in section II and between sections il and I2, partition walls Iii and E51, and I6 and I7 respectively, substantially of afshape and height shown in Figure 5, are spaced at a suitable distance to form` chambers I8 and I9 respectively to permit housing of mechanism hereinafter described. Between sections I Il and II,

a chamber 22 similar to chambers i8 and le is formed by partition walls 2! and 22. rPartition Wall ZI is in size and shape like partition Wall I 4, and partition wall 22 is similar to partition wall 2i except for greater height to compensate for the greater depth of section I il. The partition walls IA, i5, It, i7, 2i, and 22 are at their outer edges welded to the side walls and bases of their respective sections. The partition walls 2| and 22, I4 and i5, and IE and i7 are spanned by aprons 23, bent to conform. to the irregular tops of the partition walls, said aprons at their ends being welded in a leakproof manner to their respective partition walls, and the sides of said aprons being likewise welded to the sides of tank I. By means of aprons 23 and the various partition walls, it will beV seen` that chambers i8, i9, and 29 provide housings for the driving mechanism, and that such mechanism will be kept free of water and rust, While a continuous flow of water will be permitted between the several sections. It will also be seen in Figure 5 that the various aprons 23 are so shaped as to provide convenient passageways 2d for permitting hog carcasses to pass between the several sections.

The dehairing section is provided with beater shafts 25, 26, and 27. The shaft 25 for' convenience will be termed the lower beater shaft, and shafts 25 and 27 the upper beater shafts. The shaft 2tv is journaled in bearings 28, which are of the type shown in Figure 12, mounted in partition walls 2l, Ill, 75, and I E, and also in thrust bearngs rigidly secured to the outer faces of partition walls I 7 and 22. A worm wheel 3@ by which shaft 26 is drive-n is pinioned to shaft 26 at a suitable point in each of the chambers I8, I9, and 20. Y l

As shown in Figure 5, the partition walls 2i, I4, i5, and it on each side of the passageways 2t, and near the top, are slotted at 3i to permit an adjustable range for the shafts 25 and 27. As shown in Figures 9 and l1, a bearing 32 having a slidable range equal to the length of slot 3i is securely held in place by adjustable screws 66. On the exterior. faces of the partition walls: 2i, It, I5, and it, at a suitable distance above and below the slots 3l, are securely axed, by means of' stud bolts 36, elongated brackets 3l', in each of which is slidably mounted a plate 38 having an opening 39 through which passes bearing 22. A flange ill is threaded on bearing 32, to securely clamp plate 38 and bearing 32 about opening 3|. The water side of bearing 32 is provided with packing gland d5 for holding packing 47 about the shaft. Gland i5 is held to bearing 32 by stud bolts d6. Inasmuch as the apparatus, when in operation, is filled with water above the slots 3i, the plates 33 and bearings 32 adjacent their respective partition walls are each faced with a sheet di of rubber or other suitable material, which acts as water seal gaskets between the plates 38 and bearings 32 and their respective partition walls immediately surrounding the slots 3i, thereby allowing only a minimum of leakage through the slots 3|. The plates 38 are of such size as to provide complete coverage of slots 3| at any adjustment of the shafts 25 and 27.,

Shafts 25 and 27 are driven by means of sprocket wheels i8 pinioned on each of said shafts at a suitable point within each of the chambers 2S, i3 and I2.

Adjacent the Vside of the tank I an elongated shaft t is journaled in bearings il@ mounted on standards 5I. and I 9, a worm 52 is pinioned on the shaft @9, said worms meshing with worm wheels 53 pinioned to shafts 54. The shafts 5d traverse the chambers 2t, i8, and i9, at right angle to shaft d2 and are held in position by means of bearings At each of the chambers 2i?, I8,

55 and 56 mounted on brackets 57 and 5B respectively. The bracket 57 is a part of standard 5I. Standard 5i is secured to the tank by bolts d3. Bracket 58 on which is bearing 52 is held to the partition walls of the tank by bolts M, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Y

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a worm 52 is pinioned to each of the shafts 54% to engage worm wheel 30 for the purpose of rotating lower beater shaft 26. Midway the slot SI and centered with shafts` Eli, auxiliary shafts t are journaled in bearings 5I, which are of the type shown in Figure l2, mounted in partition walls 2l, is, i5, and i6. The shafts 8S are driven by beveled gears 62 pinioned thereon at each of chambers 26], I8, and I9, meshing with beveled gears S3 pinioned to shafts 52. Sprocket wheels 5d are pinioned on the shafts 6!! in relation to sprocket wheels lie, and the upper beater shafts 25 and 27 are caused to rotate by means of sprocket chains F55 trained on the respective sprocket wheels d8. and 617.

The shafts 25 and 27 are held at fixed adjustc tion walls2i, i5, and I by bolts ES. A threaded shaft 66 is pivotally connected with each of the shafts 2,5 and 27 adjacent the outer faces of partition walls 2l, I5 and it, as by a collar bearing l2 slidably mounted on the shafts 25 and 27 and an annular enlargement fit and brackets 42. The shafts are rotated by means of hand wheels 'iii secured to the free Vend of shafts E55 by means of nuts 7l. It will be seen that each of the shafts 25 and 27. is adjusted at three points, namely, at partition walls 2l, l5, and i5. In practice, the adjustments on each of the shafts are at all times the same, in order that in operation the shafts 25 and 27 will be parallel to each other and each parallel to shaft 26. The several adjustments on each of the shafts 25 and 27 may be kept in alinement by suitable indicia on the threaded portion of each of the shafts 66 to denote the revolutions thereof.

Pinioned on. each of the beater shafts 25, 25, and 27 are aplurality of equidistant and correspondingly spaced collars 723.v Integral with the collars 'I3 are a plurality of radially extending shanks 7f3 (Figure 13), each of said shanks having an offset portion 75 to which are afxed flexible beater arms 76. The beater arms lii are made of elongated strips of fabric or other suitable material, and are held in position by means of bolts 77.

A metallic scraper 73 is bolted or riveted to the free end of each of the beater arms 76, said scraper comprising a small rectangle oflheavy sheet metal material, bent at right angle near its free end at 79. The free end 89, while rather blunt to prevent tearing of the skins of the carcasses, is sufficiently beveled to act as a scraper.

beater arm 16, with the free end pointing in the direction of the rotation of its respective shaft. The scrapers i3 of the several shafts, by reason of the collars being spaced in corresponding relation, will be cooperatively disposed.

Shims 99 of a graduating thickness are secured between shanks lll and beater arms l by which scrapers i8 are angularly disposed in relation to their respective shafts, thereby providing means for automatically impelling the carcasses to the opposite end of the tank from which introduced. Scrapers 18 may be disposed at such an angle that the edges Sil of successive scrapers of successive collars will be in substantially spiral formation.

It will thus be seen that by rotating the scrapers 18 of the several shafts 25, 2% and 2l, forward motion of the carcass lili) in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1, is assured.

It will be noted in Figure that by the use of proper worms 59 and the proper positioning of bevel gears 63, the shaft will be rotated in a clockwise direction while shafts 2t and 2l will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the purpose being that, in the operation of the dehairing apparatus, the Scrapers 18 of the shafts 26 and 2l will tend to rotate the hog carcasses in a clockwise direction which will be opposed by the beaters of shaft 25. The resistance offered by the beaters of shaft 25 will cause a scufflng action which will more quickly and completely remove the hair from the surface of the carcass.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an endless conveyor Si is provided in the rinsing section to carry carcasses from such section to a gambrel conveyor 82 shown adjacent the rinsing section of the present invention. The conveyor 8l consists of an endless web belt traversing the interior of the rinsing section and extending from a point near the bottom of said section adjacent the dehairing section to a point above said section at the opposite end thereof. The conveyor 8l at its upper Vend is mounted on roller 8G, rigidly secured to shaft 85, said shaft being journaled in bearings 86 mounted on standards 8l. The standards 8l may be rigidly secured to angle irons 3 and 5 in any suitable manner. At its lower end, the conveyor 8| is mounted on roller 88, rigidly secured to shaft 89, journaled in bearings i mounted in the opposite sides of the rinsing section. A sprocket wheel Sl is pinioned at one end of shaft 85, and by means of chain 92 and sprocket 96 on conveyor 82, conveyor 8l receives its power and moves forwardly.

The shaft 119, by which the beater shafts are rotated, may be driven by any suitable means, but in practice an electric motor 94 of 25 H. P. is preferred. The motor 91.1 before engaging the shaft 9 is geared to a speed reducer 93 so that the shaft i9 will rotate at approximately 80 R. P. lVi.

As a scalding means, heated water is desirable, and is introduced from a continuous source 95, and is drained out through appropriate drains 91. Overflow is cared for by overflow pipes such as overflow pipe 98. Spray 83 is provided over the rinsing section for removing loose hair from the hog as it leaves the tank.

The hog carcasses enter the scalding section from the bleeding rail, and, after remaining there for a sufficient length of time, are guided by anoperator with a pole, longitudinally through the rst passageway 2li to the dehairing section. The carcasses, upon entering the dehairing section, will pass totally submerged in water of increasing temperature between the rotating beaters. The beaters on shafts 26 and 2l will partially scrape and dehair the hog carcass, and simultaneously rotate the carcass in a clockwise direction, as it will appear looking in the direction of Figure 3, which movement of the carcass will be resisted by the counter movement of the beaters on shaft 25, thereby causing a scufng action and removal of the more stubborn hairs. carcasses passing between the Scrapers of the several shafts are supported by beater arms l5. It will be seen that by reason of the continual rotation of the carcass and the counter rotation of the shafts that the entire surface of the carcass, including the most inaccessible parts, will be completely and rapidly cleaned and dehaired.

The hog carcasses, during the dehairing operation, will, by reason of the angular setting of the Scrapers, -be simultaneously forwarded toward the rinsing section, without the aid of an operator or other conveying apparatus.

The carcasses upon entering the rinsing section will be picked up by an endless conveyor and automatically carried to a gambrel conveyor or other disposition.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a convenient and inexpensive method whereby the entire surface of hog carcasses may be scalded, completely and thoroughly dehaircd and cleaned and rinsed singly or in close succession in one continuous operation.

It should be noted that the present invention provides a method in which the dehairing is accomplished while the portion of the carcass being dehaired is completely submerged in water of effective temperature.

We claim:

l. The method of dehairing an animal carcass which comprises rotating the carcass, simultaneously scufiing the skin surface of the carcass in one direction and simultaneously scraping the skin surface of the carcass in the opposite direction.

2. The method of dehairing an animal carcass which comprises moving the carcass in a longitudinal direction while submerged in a body of heated water, simultaneously scui'ng the skin surface of the carcass in a direction substantially at right angle to the direction of movement of the carcass and simultaneously scraping the skin surface of the carcass in a direction opposite to the direction of scufng.

3. The method of dehairing an animal carcass which comprises rotatably impelling the carcass in a forwardly direction while submerged in a body of heated water and simultaneously scufflng the skin surface of the carcass in a direction at an angle to the direction to which the carcass is mpelled and simultaneously scraping the skin surface of the carcass in a direction opposite the direction of scufflng.

HARRY H. MCKEE. KEITH MUIR.

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